sweepera community rural municipality of Imbertin the province of Puerto Plata, has become a point of reference at the national and international level after the disappearance of the girl Brianna Genao Rosario, just three years old.
Beyond the pain that keeps its locals in suspense, this town has been dragging on for decades another silent tragedythe total abandonment of its two access routes.
The roads that communicate to sweeperthe Llano de Pérez, Hoyo de Pérez–Loma Blanca– sectionsweeper— are found in deplorable conditionsfull of holes and sections practically impassablea situation that worsens dramatically with the mud that forms in times of rain.
Added to this is the absence of a bridge over the Hoyo de Pérez riverwhich leaves the community practically isolated in rainy seasons that cause the tributary to flood.
“I have 62 years and I have never seen that good road,” he says. Jose Ramon Cabreraone of the residents, reflecting the collective feeling of a community which claims to have been ignored by all governments.
- The consequences of evil The state of the roads directly impacts education.
Cross a river to get to school
According to Cabrera, in rainy season High school students are forced to cross the river to get to high school, a situation that in many cases prevents them from attending classes due to the danger posed by rising waters.
The community they explain Also, when someone falls ill, they must transfer the patient to the hospital located in Llanos de Pérez, facing a journey that becomes almost impossible due to the poor condition of the roads.
“The road has always been bad, it has been strong, but we hope to God that they will pay attention to it,” he said. Pascuala González Mercedes.
The lady, of 74 yearshopes that with the visibility it has today sweeper provoke a response from the authorities.
Although they highlight that they have basic services as drinking water and electricitythe community They insist that street repair is a urgent urgency.
They point out that the arrangement of the tracks would significantly improve the quality of life and boost the local economy.
They remember that sweeper and the nearby towns are characterized by their agricultural productionespecially cocoa, tangerineavocado, orange and other fruits that are taken to different markets. However, in times of rain, the mud forces producers to take out their harvest on horsebackgiven the complexity of entering vehicles.
“Here they only come in policy to search for votes. When there is not elections“Nobody comes here,” he said. Pascuala González Mercedes.
Residents say they have raised multiple formal requests for the repair of access roads, without obtaining concrete answers. The most recent was delivered in the year 2024without any work having started so far.
While sweeper remains under the gaze of the country and the world |due to the disappearance of a girl that keeps the entire nation in anguish, its inhabitants hope that this attention is not limited to the pain of the moment, but also serves to make visible decades of abandonment and the urgent need for dignity for a community that cries out for passable roads and real development opportunities.
